4.18.2017

INFORMATION SPECIAL: Update on the State of Black Migrants under Trump - Webinar Presented by Black Alliance for Just Immigration

As we continue to deal with this ersatz government, it is important to be aware of the various freedoms and rights that are being challenged on a daily basis by the repuglycons and T-rump. I received this communique this morning and thought it might be of interest.

As T-rump expands his axis of evil across the US, it is even more important that we be aware of what's happening in Washington - because they materially affect us via our neighbors right here in our community, our co-workers, our friends, and relatives - many of whom are here from Africa and the Caribbean.

Mayor’s Commission on African & Caribbean Immigrant Affairs

Legal and Immigration Committee Report

Wednesday April 12, 2017

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“We strive to be a city where neighbors know each other, care for one another and build our social fabric. Fixing our immigration system will strengthen our interactions with those we serve, and, ultimately, allow us to fulfill our mission to be a city of kindness. There’s also an economic benefit to immigration. Anaheim is a city of immigrants, many of them first-generation, many entrepreneurs. They’ve helped make our city a more vibrant and fun place to visit. Without immigrants, our constant efforts to renew Anaheim would be a lot harder.”

— Tom Tait, Republican Mayor of Anaheim, California, March 21

Costly Immigration Enforcement Measures Send Message of Fear

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced today that he submitted a memorandum to all federal prosecutors to require the prioritization of immigration offenses in order to criminalize these violations and implement stricter enforcement practices.

In response to the memorandum, the following is a statement from Ali Noorani, Executive Director of the National Immigration Forum:

“Criminalizing immigration violations among individuals who are peaceably living in and contributing to our communities only will sow fear and chaos.

“Immigration enforcement should prioritize violent criminals and traffickers. Yet this new policy does just opposite by requiring federal prosecutors to prioritize immigration violations rather than violent criminals and threats to community safety.

“Already we are seeing the rate of crimes reported in cities across the U.S. fall because immigrants do not trust law enforcement. Today's announcement further undermines local law enforcement's mission to serve and protect the entirety of their communities."

“Even before this announcement, the majority of federal prosecutions concerned immigration violations, more than prosecutions for drugs, weapons and fraud combined. These measures depart from our values as a country and do not adequately address the situation at our borders.

“These enforcement practices send a terrible message to immigrants throughout our nation. Law enforcement resources must be used in ways that target actual threats. There are better ways to ensure our safety.”

Security and Fairness Enhancement for America Act of 2017 or the SAFE for America Act.

Bill amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to eliminate the diversity immigrant program.

RAISE Act (Reforming American Immigration for Strong Employment) (They should just call it RACE act - and get it over with)

Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) and Senator David Perdue (R-Georgia) unveiled a bill titled, "the Reforming American Immigration for Strong Employment (RAISE) Act," on February 7th. This bill seeks to limit legal immigration to "637,960 in its first year and to 539,958 by its tenth year-a 50 percent reduction from the 1,051,031 immigrants who arrived in 2015." According to Senator Cotton's official website, the Act aims to achieve the reduction of legal immigration by doing the following:

Retain immigration preferences for the spouses and minor children of U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents while eliminating preferences for certain categories of extended and adult family members.

Eliminate the 50,000 visas arbitrarily allocated by lottery.

Limit refugee visas to 50,000 per year.

To truly help American workers to get employed and have better wages, Senator Cotton and Senator Perdue need to focus on issues such as education reform, which will help Americans equip themselves with knowledge and skills that employers desire. If the Senators want to eliminate something, let's eliminate ruinous and job-killing laws and regulations such as the minimum wage requirement and occupation licensing requirements.

Allows Governors the ability to reject settlement of any refugee in that state

S180- Senator Grassley

Changes criteria for certain H1B and L1 work visas who violate dates on visas:

Face fines up to 6 months

Subsequent offenses carry a penalty of up to 2 years in jail.

Working to mandate e-verify program, a computerized government record system that confirms employee’s authorization to work.

Bill would require notification from US Citizenship and Immigration Services to be shared with ICE for anyone who receives a final message non- confirmation message which signifies that employee is not authorized to work in US.

Moving Forward

Get involved with state and local organizing and policy efforts

Establish black immigrant defense and offense procedures

Mobilize the Global Black Diaspora

Establish Freedom Cities- cross racial vision and comprehensive framework for transformative social and human rights for all oppressed communities.

WASHINGTON – U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) today announced multiple measures to further deter and detect H-1B visa fraud and abuse. The H-1B visa program should help U.S. companies recruit highly-skilled foreign nationals when there is a shortage of qualified workers in the country. Yet, too many American workers who are as qualified, willing, and deserving to work in these fields have been ignored or unfairly disadvantaged. Protecting American workers by combating fraud in our employment-based immigration programs is a priority for USCIS.

Beginning today, USCIS will take a more targeted approach when making site visits across the country to H-1B petitioners and the worksites of H-1B employees. USCIS will focus on:

Cases where USCIS cannot validate the employer’s basic business information through commercially available data;

H-1B-dependent employers (those who have a high ratio of H-1B workers as compared to U.S. workers, as defined by statute); and

Employers petitioning for H-1B workers who work off-site at another company or organization’s location.

Targeted site visits will allow USCIS to focus resources where fraud and abuse of the H-1B program may be more likely to occur, and determine whether H-1B dependent employers are evading their obligation to make a good faith effort to recruit U.S. workers. USCIS will continue random and unannounced visits nationwide. These site visits are not meant to target nonimmigrant employees for any kind of criminal or administrative action but rather to identify employers who are abusing the system.

Employers who abuse the H-1B visa program negatively affect U.S. workers, decreasing wages and job opportunities as they import more foreign workers. To further deter and detect abuse, USCIS has established an email address which will allow individuals (including both American workers and H-1B workers who suspect they or others may be the victim of H-1B fraud or abuse) to submit tips, alleged violations and other relevant information about potential H-1B fraud or abuse. Information submitted to the email address will be used for investigations and referrals to law enforcement agencies for potential prosecution.

BILLS INTRODUCED AND CONSIDERED

S. 845-The Protecting Sensitive Locations Act

This bill would codify and expand an existing policy already in place at Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to require that ICE agents receive prior approval from a supervisor when there are exigent circumstances before engaging in enforcement actions at sensitive locations, such as schools, hospitals and health clinics, places of worship, organizations assisting crime victims, and other specified locations. The legislation also requires that ICE agents receive yearly training and report annually regarding enforcement actions in these locations.

The bill would require that the government appoint counsel for children and vulnerable individuals in immigration removal proceedings, and would require that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) establish procedures to ensure that legal orientation programs are available to all detained immigrants.